For the 2013 model year, Nissan dramatically reduces the price on its all-electric Leaf to $28,800 -- $6,000 less than in 2012. California customers can buy in for as little as $18,800 after applying electric-vehicle incenetives from federal and state government. NISSAN

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Available in early 2014, the Cadillac ELR imports a version of the Chevrolet Volt powertrain to its luxury brand. The four-seat luxury sedan can drive 35 miles as a pure electric vehicle or more than 300 miles with the 1.4-liter gasoline-powered electric generator. The ELR meets California's emissions standard for single-occupancy access to high-occupancy vehicle lanes. GENERAL MOTORS

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Chevrolet pulled the wraps off its highly anticipated seventh generation Corvette at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show. The 61st model year of the Chevrolet classic is powered with a 6.2-liter V8 that makes 450 horsepower and still gets 26 mpg. It will be available in the Fall. GENERAL MOTORS

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The Hyundai HCD-14 Concept Genesis breaks the mold for the luxury sedan segment with a retro futuristic style. Introduced at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show, the four door with a coupe-esque roof leaves an impression both coming and going with a dramatic front grille and extra-wide exhaust. HYUNDAI

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The twin-turbocharged Bentley GT Speed Convertible is the world's fastest four-seat convertible. Powered with a twin-turbocharged 6-liter W12 engine, it reaches 100 mph in 9.7 seconds and will cost about $240,000. BENTLEY MOTORS

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Toyota teased the redesign of its popular compact sedan with the Corolla Furia Concept unveiled at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show. Its youthful makeover includes 19-inch alloy wheels, a dramatically sloped roofline, a blacked-out grille and carbon fiber accents. TOYOTA

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The Volkswagen CrossBlue Concept, unveiled at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show, is a three-row crossover that looks suspiciously like the Jeep Grand Cherokee, only with a plug-in diesel electric powertrain. VOLKSWAGEN

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Nissan pushes the design envelope with its futuristic Resonance Concept, an all-wheel-drive crossover with a hybrid electric powertrain and a "floating roof" that extends the steeply sloped windshield glass along its top. NISSAN

Honda's Urban SUV Concept, unveiled at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show, is a crossover version of its popular Fit subcompact that is smaller than the Honda CR-V. HONDA

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For 2014, Jeep's top-of-the-line Grand Cherokee gets an aggro makeover that belies its under-the-hood environmentalism. The refreshed Jeep will be offered with a 3.0-liter clean EcoDiesel engine and 8-speed automatic transmission. CHRYSLER GROUP

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Mercedes-Benz introduced its entry-level CLA250 at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show. The small, front-wheel drive sedan is likely to start in the low $30,000 range when it comes to market in the fall. DAIMLER AG

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The BMW M6 Gran Coupe is a stretched version of the M5 sport sedan powered with a 4.4-liter V8 and twin turbochargers that help it race from 0 to 60 in 4.1 seconds. Expect it to cost $110,00 when it hits dealers in the summer. BMW GROUP

The Detroit Auto Show kicked off this week with the world's major automakers continuing their horsepower wars on one end while simultaneously working toward the 54.5 mpg fuel economy standard they're required to meet by 2025. Among the show's highlights:

Chevrolet pulled the wraps off its long-awaited seventh generation 'Vette. Gilled and chiseled, the 2014 Corvette Stingray imports European style, but under the hood it's a red-blooded American. Powered with a 6.2-liter V8 that makes 450 horsepower and still gets 26 mpg highway, the 61st model year of the Chevrolet classic will be available in the third quarter. Bentley, meanwhile, flaunted the world's fastest four-seat convertible. The twin-turbocharged Bentley GT Speed Convertible, with its 6-liter W12 engine, reaches 100 mph in a mere 9.7 seconds, but it costs. Expect pricing to be about $240,000.

BMW showed off its M6 Gran Coupe. The stretched version of its M5 sport sedan is powered with a 4.4-liter V8 and twin turbochargers that help it race from 0 to 60 in 4.1 seconds – the same as the open-air Bentley. Expect a sticker of $110,000 when it hits dealers in the summer. Mercedes-Benz introduced its entry-level CLA250, a small, front-wheel drive sedan that is likely to start in the low $30,000 range when it comes to market in the fall, while Infiniti rolled out its entry-level G37 replacement, the Q50. The rear-drive sport sedan pairs a 328-horsepower V6 with a seven-speed automatic transmission. It was the Hyundai HCD-14 Concept Genesis, however, that broke the mold for the luxury sedan segment, with its retro futuristic style. A four-door with a coupe-esque roof, the Concept Genesis leaves an impression both coming and going, with a dramatic front grille and extra-wide exhaust.

Practicality almost always takes a back seat to flash, but there was plenty on offer for the vast majority of Americans who perceive their cars as appliances with wheels. Toyota teased the styling cues for its next-generation Corolla with its Corolla Furia Concept. The fifth best-selling car in Orange County last year gets a youthful makeover with 19-inch alloy wheels, a dramatically sloped roofline, a blacked-out grille and carbon fiber accents.

Honda revealed its new Urban SUV Concept – a crossover version of its popular Fit subcompact that is smaller than the CR-V. A production version of the concept is likely to hit the market in two years. Nissan continues to push the design envelope with its futuristic Resonance concept, an all-wheel drive crossover with a hybrid electric powertrain created at the manufacturer's San Diego design studio. Topping its windswept body style is a "floating roof" that extends the steeply sloped windshield glass along its top.

As with every auto show since the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt were first introduced, the Detroit Auto Show revealed a number of new vehicles that run the green gamut – including new versions of the two cars that got the green ball rolling. Nissan showed a less expensive version of its all-electric Leaf. The 2013 Leaf will cost $28,800 – $6,000 less than in 2012. California customers can buy in for as little as $18,800, after applying electric-vehicle incentives from the U.S. and state governments. Available in early 2014, the new Cadillac ELR imports a version of the Chevrolet Volt powertrain to its luxury brand. The four-seat luxury sedan can drive 35 miles as a pure electric vehicle or more than 300 miles with the 1.4-liter gasoline-powered electric generator. The ELR meets California's emissions standard for single-occupancy access to high-occupancy vehicle lanes.

Calling it a "groundbreaking exploration of potential technologies ... designed to meet the work and recreation needs of tomorrow's truck buyers," Ford unveiled its Atlas Concept pickup, powered with a twin-turbocharged direct injection EcoBoost engine and start-stop technology that turns off the pickup when idling and automatically restarts when pressure is lifted from the brake pedal.

For 2014, Jeep's top-of-the-line Grand Cherokee will get an aggressive makeover that belies its under-the-hood environmentalism. The refreshed Jeep will be offered with improved towing capacity and a new 3.0-liter clean EcoDiesel engine and 8-speed automatic transmission. In its quest to conquer the American market, Volkswagen debuted its CrossBlue concept, a three-row crossover that looks suspiciously like the most premium Jeep, only with a plug-in diesel electric powertrain.

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